System and process for removing nitrogen compounds and odors from wastewater and wastewater treatment system

ABSTRACT

A wastewater treatment system includes independent wastewater treatment facilities. Each of the facilities has wastewater treatment subsystems and is monitored by a central monitoring location. Wastewater collection subsystems hold wastewater to be treated. Monitoring subsystems measure wastewater process parameters. Control devices receive control commands and, dependent upon the command received, alter parameters of the wastewater treatment subsystems. A communication device connects the wastewater treatment subsystems and the control devices and sends information corresponding to the wastewater process parameters measured by the monitors, receives control messages corresponding to the control commands, and transmits control commands the control devices to alter wastewater process parameters. The central monitor manages the watershed by receiving information, evaluating changes to be made, sending the control messages, and coordinating the monitoring of the independent wastewater treatment facilities by allowing the independent wastewater treatment facilities to at least one of trade, sell, and exchange excess effluent capacity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/793,144 filed Jun. 3, 2010 (which application claims the priority,under 35 U.S.C. §119, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/294,521 filed Jan. 13, 2010), the entire disclosures of which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention lies in the field of removing waste and odors fromwastewater using multi-zone aerobic and/or anaerobic fluidized expansionchambers. Waste can include, but is not limited to, nitrogenous wastesuch as ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. In an exemplary embodiment, thepresent disclosure relates to system and processes for processingwastewater arising from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Theinvention further includes a web-based wastewater treatment monitoringand control system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Microbial denitrification is a frequently used and inexpensive method ofremoving nitrogenous waste from wastewater. Two common configurationsutilize either packed beds (also referred to as fixed film) or fluidizedbeds. Denitrifying microbial cultures have been supported on a varietyof substrates including sand, ceramics, polymers, clay, and gels, toname a few. Fluidized bed denitrification systems offer a cost-effectivesolution to wastewater treatment, as they are self-adapting and providea very large reactive surface area for a given volume compared to fixedfilm-based filtration systems. The primary disadvantage of microbialsystems (or bioreactors) is that the organisms require an environmentconducive to supporting their metabolic needs. While biologicaltreatment systems can be flexible and robust, temperature, pH, oxygencontent, and contaminant levels are variables to be controlled foroptimum performance. Despite this requirement, microbial denitrificationis still a cost effective way to treat wastewater.

Such systems can, and typically are, used in conjunction with otherwastewater unit processes to achieve acceptable levels of biologicaloxygen demand (BOD) and/or the removal of other pollutants including,but not limited to, phosphorus, nitrogen, heavy metals, miscellaneoussolids, and toxic organics.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) promulgate regulations that require entitiesgenerating wastewater to confine the discharge to permissible levels.Examples of regulated materials and chemicals included in dischargedwastewater are ammonia, phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, and heavymetals. Typically, entities generating wastewater create holding pondsat their site. These ponds can be part of the treatment system and actas storage structures for the wastewater before, during, and afterprocessing. Some processes allow the entities to either discharge theireffluent to local waterways, others recycle the treated water by reusingit, for example, for cleaning or irrigation. Addition of wastewatertreatment systems prior to these holding facilities can reduce the sizerequired for these holding ponds.

Various entities spend millions of dollars annually to treat theirwastewater. The cost of discharging untreated water to a municipalwastewater treatment facility can be prohibitive. In addition, everydollar spent on such discharge could have been spent on other, morebeneficial, endeavors, including, for example, improvements tofacilities.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, if the filter uses standard 3-inch diameter plumbing,for example, then standard 3-inch parts can be used. At the top of theplumbing, a 3-inch DWV clean out 200 can be connected to a 3-inch cross202. The horizontal fill pipes 120 can comprise a pair of 3-inch by7.25-inch sch-160 PVC fittings each on opposing sides of the cross 202with each being connected to one of a pair of 3-inch by 20.5-inchsch-160 PVC fittings through a 3-inch compression coupling 204. Each ofthe horizontal fill pipes 120 is terminated by one of the two inputbulkheads 110. The hatched areas of the pipes connected to the cross 202illustrate the cement joints of the respective pipes. The verticalinjector pipe 130 can be a 3-inch by 89-inch sch-160 PVC pipe that isterminated at the bottom thereof by a 4-inch bulkhead 206 holding a3-inch drain gate 208, a 4-inch by 2-inch bushing 210, and, finally, a2-inch plug 212. In this exemplary embodiment, four 1.5-inch holes,2.5-inches on center are at the lower end of the vertical injector pipe130.

Some existing denitrification filters may use a fluidized bed bioreactorhaving an inverted cone shape. Such a configuration optimizes the activevolume of the bioreactor and reduces the volume and pumping requirementsfor any given throughput due to the high velocity of the liquid at thesmall part of the cone relative to the average liquid velocity of theentire vessel. An exemplary configuration of a fluidized bed reactor isshown in FIG. 1. In this filter, wastewater W is injected through thetop of the filter element through a pipe that discharges at the base ofthe fluidized bed reactor. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the exemplary filter 100can receive water to be treated W from either of two input bulkheads110. Passing through horizontal fill pipes 120, the water W enters avertical injector pipe 130 and exits out ports 140 adjacent thelowermost end of the vertical injector pipe 130 into the interior 102 ofthe filter body. Accordingly, the high-pressure stream of water W isforced upwards through the column of bed material 150, e.g., sand (notshown but indicated by dotted underline), which material 150 fills alowermost portion of the filter's interior (for example, up to fill line160 when dry). As the water W mixes with the bed material 150, itcreates a fluidized bed having an upper boundary above fill line 160. Acone-shaped filter maximizes the efficiency of the fluidization withinthe column of the fluidized bed. An ideal fluidized bed reactor is onewhere the entire volume of the bed material becomes fluidized. Coneshaped fluidized beds (compared to straight cylinders) are more tolerantof variations in flow rates and media size uniformity that can lead tomedia washout in cylinders. It is beneficial if this filter systemdesign is self-leveling and has a built-in overflow capability. Tofunction best, however, a fluidized bed's long axis should be orientedas close to vertical as possible.

An exemplary diagram for a denitrification process flow that can use afluidized bed reactor 100 is provided in FIG. 3. Effluent wastewater Wis introduced into a set 300 of sumps and filters that are configured inseries because microbial reduction of ammonia in an influent stream is amulti-stage process. In a first stage 310, ammonia (NH₃) is converted tonitrate (NO₃) in the presence of oxygen, an aerobic process callednitrification. Oxygen can be added either as O₂ or as a constituent ofair. Nitrates are as problematic as ammonia as a contaminant in wastestreams. Accordingly, they must be treated as well. As such, in a secondstage 320, nitrates are converted to atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) in ananaerobic process called denitrification. The number of aerobic andanaerobic filters in any given system is not fixed, but rather dependson the nature of the wastewater being treated and the desiredcharacteristics of the system effluent. FIG. 3 shows a configurationwhere the first aerobic stage is succeeded by two anaerobic stages. Asshown in FIG. 3, the influent W is discharged into an aerobic sump 312where air 330, for example, is injected to maintain an adequate oxygenconcentration sufficient for the aerobic microbes in the ammoniareduction stage of the process. This aerated water is recirculatedthrough a first set of two fluidized bed reactors 314. Aerobicallytreated water W₁ from the aerobic sump 312 then flows to the first oftwo series-connected anaerobic sumps 322, 324. A second set of twofluidized bed reactors 326 recirculate influent water W₁ within a firstanaerobic sump 322, which discharges partially treated water W₂ to asecond anaerobic sump 324, at which a third set of two fluidized bedreactors 328 recirculate fluid therein. Denitrified water W₃ flows outof the second anaerobic sump 324 to a final sump 340, where any numberof secondary removal systems 350 can be present. For example, if anotherpollutant is to be removed, then a secondary removal system 350 can beused. Treated water W₄ from this final sump 340 can then either berecycled or discharged. Possible direction of the treated water W₄ canbe to a storage pond, a natural water body, and/or to a wastewatertreatment facility as desired. Each of the sumps 312, 322, 324 can beaccommodated to fit the needs of a particular facility.

The basic chemical process for treatment of the liquid in the firststage 310 involves aerating a stream of ammonia-rich wastewater andintroducing this wastewater to an aerobic sand filter(s) where it firstcontacts an aerated zone. Here, the ammonia is converted to NO₃ as setforth in the following equation:

NH₄+2O₂→NO₃ ⁻+2H++H₂O.

Then, the nitrate-rich effluent of the first stage 310 enters at leastone anoxic filter where a high density of denitrifying bacteria convertsthe nitrate to N₂ as set forth in the following equation:

NO₃ ₋ +Carbon Source→N₂+CO₂+H₂O+Biomass.

This two-step process is represented in the schematic flow diagram ofFIG. 4, which also includes the vertical orientation of influent andeffluent within the system of FIG. 3. First, effluent wastewater W isintroduced into the aerobic sump 312, the nitrification sump. Liquidfrom the nitrification sump 312 is removed from the bottom thereof andinjected in the filter 314 through the lower port(s) 140. The pressureprovided by the liquid coming out of the port 140 is made sufficient tomaintain fluidization of the bed material in the filter 314. The fluidin the nitrification sump 312 is aerated, which aeration can occurdirectly in the nitrification sump 312 or indirectly in a separateaeration sump 312′, the latter of which is shown in FIG. 4. In thisfirst stage 310, ammonia converts to nitrate.

Ammonia-free liquid containing nitrate W₁ is, then, transferred to ananaerobic sump 322 of the second stage 320. Liquid from the anaerobicsump 322 is injected into the filter 324 through the lower port(s) 140.The pressure provided by the liquid coming out of the port 140 is madesufficient to maintain fluidization of the bed material in the filter324. The fluid in the anaerobic sump 322 is not aerated, enablingnitrate in the filter 324 to convert to N₂. If further anaerobicfiltration is needed to completely convert the nitrate, the portion ofthe second stage 320 shown in FIG. 4 can be repeated as desired(indicated with the ellipses in FIG. 4) and, as shown in FIG. 3, totransfer effluent W_(n) from the anaerobic sump 322 to additionalrepetitive filtration stages.

It is desirable to remove as much solids from wastewater as possiblebefore introducing the wastewater W into the denitrification system. Oneway to remove such solids is to first send the wastewater W to a solidsseparator (e.g., a screw press or inclined screen solids separator), inwhich some of the suspended solids are removed. These solids can be usedas a soil amendment if desired. The liquid portion that exits from thesolids separator can then be treated with the denitrification system toremove other contaminants.

Removal of nitrogen and odor causing contaminants from wastewater canallow for the reuse of this water for process and waste flushingpurposes. Such a practice lowers fresh water usage, which is moreenvironmentally friendly and cost effective than constantly using freshwater.

The flow of water needed to keep the fluidized sand filter systemsfluidized often exceeds the overall flow of liquid through the system.As a result, fluidized sand filter systems have traditionally needed tobe coupled with additional tankage (sumps) to hold the additional waterneeded to keep the beds fluidized. This need for additional tankageincreases the footprint of the system by as much as two times.Accordingly, there is a need for a system that reduces this extra spacefor sumps.

Residences, commercial and industrial establishments generate wastewateror sewage. Sewage includes household waste from toilets, baths, kitchensand washing machines as well as wastewater produced from industrialprocesses like food and chemical production. In a typical metropolitanarea all of these sources of wastewater are connected by a network ofunderground sewers to a sewage treatment plant where the water isprocessed to eliminate components in the water that could harm theenvironment. The sewer system includes pipes and pumping stations thatmove the wastewater from its sources to the waste treatment plant. Somesewer systems also handle storm water runoff. Sewage systems capable ofhandling storm water are called combined systems. These systems areexpensive to operate as they must have the capacity to process surges ofstorm water along with the normal volume of sewage they treat. As aresult, many municipalities have separate sewage and storm watertreatment facilities.

Conventional sewage treatment generally includes three stages, generallyreferred to as primary, secondary and tertiary or advanced treatment.Primary treatment is a process in which raw sewage is screened ortreated in holding basins to remove solids. In the holding basin, a scumlayer forms and includes, for example, oil, grease, soap, and plastics.The solids and scum are separated from the water and the remainingliquid is, then, further processed. In the secondary treatment step,nutrients, organic constituents, and suspended solids are removed bybacterial organisms in a managed environment. Tertiary or advancedtreatment involves the further nutrient and suspended solids removal anddisinfection before it is discharged into the environment.

Sewage can also be treated close to where it is generated using septictanks, biofilters, or aerobic treatment systems. These systems processthe wastewater produced from residential, commercial, or agriculturalsources at or near the location where they are generated. These systems,which include septic tanks, do not require extensive sewer systems andare, generally, used in locations where access to sewage treatmentplants is not practical. Septic tanks employ physical and biologicalremoval of organics similarly to conventional sewage treatment plant butdo not have the capacity to handle large surges of wastewater. Becausethe water in a septic tank is discharged at the same rate it enters thesystem, the input waste stream can exceed the capacity of the system toprocess the water before it is discharged. As a result, these systemscan and do discharge untreated sewage into the water table. This is adeleterious condition that needs to be eliminated.

Subdivisions and planned urban developments that are not located nearsewage treatment plants sometimes use wastewater treatment systemscalled package plants. Package plants are miniature sewage treatmentplants that are configured to handle the needs of a subdivision or aninstitution, such as a school, from which bathroom and cafeteriawastewater can be processed. Like septic tanks, package plants can behydraulically overloaded during peak loading hours, after lunch isserved for example, when large volumes of wastewater enter the system,forcing contaminated water to be discharged before it can be properlyprocessed. Preventing this condition would be desirable.

In municipal areas where large, centralized wastewater treatmentfacilities are established, sewage can be effectively processed andwater discharged into the environment can be controlled and regulated.In rural areas where package plants and septic systems are employed,wastewater discharge into the environment is uncontrolled, largelyunregulated and contaminants are routinely discharged into theenvironment. Preventing such discharge would be desirable.

The same is true for agricultural operations, particularly, largeestablishments like confined animal feeding operations and dairy farms.There are no standard agricultural wastewater treatment systems on themarket. Typically each farming operator retains a wastewater treatmentconsultant and a custom system is designed to meet their individualneeds. Due to the massive amounts of waste created by these facilitiesand the high cost of municipal-class treatment systems, agriculturalwaste processing systems often rely on large lagoons to providesecondary and tertiary processing of their waste. Unfortunately thesesystems are subject to failure due to overflow from heavy rains andleakage from the lagoon basin. Consequently, nutrient-rich water can bedischarged into the aquifer and surrounding bodies of water. Preventingsuch discharge would be desirable.

Thus, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art systems,designs, and processes as discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a multi-stage bioreactor for effluentdenitrification and systems and methods for removing nitrogenous waste(e.g., ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) and odors from wastewater usingmulti-zone aerobic and/or anaerobic fluidized expansion chambers thatovercome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-knowndevices and methods of this general type and that provide such featureswith a reduced footprint and, in doing so, improves fluidization of thebed material.

The invention provides wastewater treatment systems and processesutilizing the multi-stage bioreactor that overcome thehereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices andmethods of this general type and that prevent contaminated water frombeing discharged and easily and routinely monitors the wastewatertreatment system so that verification of non-discharge of contaminatedwater can be made.

The bioreactor portion of the invention pertains to systems andprocesses for treating nitrogenous pollutants and odors in wastewaterthrough a controlled biological process. The primary element of controlin the invention is a quantifiable control of wastewater velocitythrough the system utilizing a controlled interaction of vessel geometrywith biological components of the system. Other control parameters ofthe systems and processes include pH, temperature, and oxygen saturationof the wastewater. Parameters of the systems and processes include somecombination of the following:

-   -   1) Reduction of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD);    -   2) Reduction of Odor;    -   3) Conversion of ammonia (NH₃) to nitrate (NO₃); and    -   4) Conversion of nitrate (NO₃) to atmospheric nitrogen (N₂).

Bacteria are maintained as a biofilm on solid media within a vessel ofthe inventive bioreactor. The solid media is particulate and ofsufficient buoyancy to be suspended with a flow of water through thevessel. The degree of buoyancy is controlled by the velocity of water,the density of the particles, and the shape of the particles and isdescribed by the equation:

$ɛ = \left\lbrack \frac{{18N_{Re}} + {2.7N_{Re}^{1.687}}}{N_{Ga}} \right\rbrack^{0.213}$

where:

-   -   ε=bed void fraction;    -   N_(Re)=Particle Reynolds Number; and    -   N_(Ga)=Galileo Number,        and is further discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,407 to Scott et        al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference        in its entirety.

Processes of the invention involve decoupling treatment time and systemflow-through using an improved sump feature. This feature optimizes theprocess to achieve a variety of process outcomes. For example, there isa reduction of odor while the nitrogen content of wastewater ismaintained for fertilizer use by conversion of ammonia to nitrate whilethe conversion of nitrate to N₂ is inhibited.

This optimized control and monitoring system can be implemented not onlyfor a single facility's wastewater treatment, but also can be expandedto monitor and document a community or watershed wide system ofwastewater treatment facilities that permits later verification of nodischarge or permissible discharge, throughout any particular timeperiod of the facility's operational history. More specifically, theinvention provides a solution to the problem of the verification oftreating wastewater from rural and agricultural sources by creating avirtual wastewater treatment system including a network of independenttreatment or filtration systems that are instrumented to measurecritical process parameters such as process flows, water levels, watertemperature, pH, nutrient concentration, total suspended solids, actualand potential effects of local weather conditions, and others. The dataproduced and recorded by these individual sub-systems are, then,transmitted electronically and captured at a central location, at whichthe received data is further analyzed and used to manage the systemsremotely. The invention, thereby, provides oversight to the control andoperation of the treatments systems being monitored.

On a local site level, parameters that are measured by various probesand instruments connect to a central processing unit (e.g., a personalcomputer), which contains and executes software that captures,processes, and records the sensed data and, then, remotely operates anumber of responsive process control mechanisms such as valves, pumps,chemical dispensers, etc., to optimize the operation of a particularfiltering system or to shut down one or more components or operations inthe case of failure or need for repair. During times when the processedoutput exceeds the limits permitted for lawful or proper discharge (forexample, the amount allowable under a particular permit), the inventioncan proactively divert output flow into a holding facility (i.e., tankor pond) for reprocessing until concentration levels at the wastewatersystem output achieve compliance, at which time permissible dischargecan occur. This “smart” interactive process is capable of monitoring andreporting on a local or regional basis (by coordinating the monitoringof adjacent sites or sites on the same waterway) and in real-time,allowing numerous advantages in monitoring the actual and potentialdischarges into a natural system, not the least of which is to allowaffected dischargers to trade, sell or exchange excess capacity orallowances.

Each of these treatment systems connects through the Internet or throughother remote electronic measures to a central monitoring location, whereoperational parameters and maintenance of the systems can be observedand controlled. The monitoring location is able to view the datarecorded by each treatment system, and, in an embodiment where a remoteviewing system is used in conjunction therewith (for example, a webcamera), operational problems are observed and diagnosed remotely. Ifany problems occur that need physical repair or service, a livetechnician could then be dispatched to fix the filter system or thatfilter could be shut down remotely or its output diverted remotely untilproper operation of the filter was restored, thereby entirely preventingdischarge of non-compliant water.

In this way, each of the treatment systems can be connected as a networkto a central monitoring station where the output of all of the networkedsystems is monitored on a continuous basis to achieve compliance andprotect against unauthorized discharge of contaminated water into theenvironment. The invention provides continuous water treatmentcapability to a large number of distributed filter systems (e.g.,physically separate and, possibly, far apart from one another) at a costthat is many factors cheaper than the cost of a conventional sewersystem. Where, in particular, all discharge is treated at an even moreexpensive regional wastewater treatment facility such as those operatedby city and state governments.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, inaccordance with the invention, a wastewater treatment system for awatershed defining an aquifer or waterway comprises a network ofindependent wastewater treatment facilities, at least one monitorlocated to measure water that includes wastewater discharged from two ormore of the independent wastewater treatment facilities and operable tomonitor water quality parameters of the watershed, and a centralmonitoring location. Each of the independent wastewater treatmentfacilities has wastewater treatment subsystems, control devices operableto receive at least one control command and, dependent upon the at leastone control command received, to alter at least one parameter of atleast one of the wastewater treatment subsystems, and a communicationdevice operatively connected to the wastewater treatment subsystems andto the control devices. The wastewater treatment subsystems include awastewater collection subsystem for holding wastewater to be treated, afilter pump subsystem comprising a wastewater pump fluidically connectedto the wastewater collection subsystem and operable to pump wastewaterout from the wastewater collection subsystem, at least one filtrationsubsystem comprising at least one bioreactive filter fluidicallyconnected to the wastewater pump and operable to filter wastewaterreceived from the wastewater pump. The at least one bioreactive filterhas a sump defining a sump cavity for receiving wastewater therein, afluidized-bed filter disposed in the sump cavity, and an outputfluidically connected to the fluidized-bed filter and operable todischarge filtered wastewater from the fluidized-bed filter. Themonitoring subsystem comprises monitors operable to measure wastewaterprocess parameters of the wastewater treatment subsystem selected fromat least one of the group consisting of process flow, water level, watertemperature, pH, nutrient concentration, total suspended solids, actualweather condition at the wastewater treatment facility, and effects oflocal weather condition on the wastewater treatment facility. Thecommunication device is operable to send information corresponding tothe wastewater process parameters measured by the monitors, to receivecontrol messages corresponding to the at least one control command, andto transmit the at least one control command to at least one of thecontrol devices to, thereby, alter a wastewater process parameter. Thecentral monitoring location is operable to manage the watershed byreceiving the information corresponding to the wastewater processparameters from each communication device, evaluating if changes are tobe made by at least one of the independent wastewater treatmentfacilities, sending the control messages to at least one of theindependent wastewater treatment facilities, and coordinating themonitoring of the independent wastewater treatment facilities byallowing the independent wastewater treatment facilities to at least oneof trade, sell, and exchange excess effluent capacity.

With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided adistributed wastewater treatment system for a watershed defining anaquifer or waterway, comprises a network of distributed wastewatertreatment facilities operatively unconnected to a central, downstreamwastewater treatment facility, at least one monitor located to measurewater that includes wastewater discharged from two or more of thedistributed wastewater treatment facilities and operable to monitorwater quality parameters of the watershed, and a central monitoringlocation. Each of the distributed wastewater treatment facilities haswastewater treatment subsystems, at least one control device operable toreceive at least one control command and, dependent upon the at leastone control command received, to alter at least one parameter of atleast one of the wastewater treatment subsystems, and a communicationdevice. The wastewater treatment subsystems include a wastewatercollection subsystem for holding wastewater to be treated, a wastewaterpump subsystem comprising a wastewater pump fluidically connected to thewastewater collection subsystem and operable to pump wastewater out fromthe wastewater collection subsystem and a treatment device operable totreat wastewater received from the wastewater pump, and a monitoringsubsystem comprising at least one monitor operable to measure wastewaterprocess parameters of the wastewater treatment subsystems selected fromat least one of the group consisting of process flow, water level, watertemperature, pH, nutrient concentration, total suspended solids, actualweather condition at the wastewater treatment facility, and effects oflocal weather condition on the wastewater treatment facility. Thecommunication device is operatively connected to at least one of thewastewater treatment subsystems and the at least one control device andoperable to transmit information corresponding to the measuredwastewater process parameters, to receive control messages correspondingto the at least one control command, and to transmit the at least onecontrol command to the at least one control device to, thereby, alter awastewater process parameter. The central monitoring location isoperable to manage the watershed by receiving the informationcorresponding to the wastewater process parameters from eachcommunication device, evaluating if changes are to be made by at leastone of the independent wastewater treatment facilities, sending thecontrol messages to at least one of the independent wastewater treatmentfacilities, and coordinating the monitoring of the independentwastewater treatment facilities by allowing the independent wastewatertreatment facilities to at least one of trade, sell, and exchange excesseffluent capacity.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the at least one oftrading, selling, and exchanging of excess effluent capacity is forexcess nitrogenous waste capacity.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the centralmonitoring location is operable to manage the watershed by at least oneof regulating and diverting discharge from the independent wastewatertreatment facilities to maintain compliance with permissible, monitoredwatershed parameter tolerances.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the centralmonitoring location includes a central processing system having atransceiver operable to communicate with the communication device, thecentral processing system being operable to receive the information fromeach communication device of the wastewater treatment facilities and totransmit at least one control message to each communication device.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the centralprocessing system is programmed to capture, process, and record thereceived information and, then, remotely operate each wastewatertreatment facility by sending the at least one control message.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the controldevices comprise at least one of the group consisting of cameras,valves, pumps, chemical dispensers, relays, switches, and facility shutdown devices.

In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the centralprocessing system comprises a personal computer and the communicationdevice comprises a communication connection to the Internet.

In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, each of thewastewater treatment subsystems comprises a throughput rate and aturnover rate independent of the throughput rate.

In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, thefluidized-bed filter is supported upright by the sump and has anupwardly expanding, hollow, conical filter body and filter media insidethe filter body.

In accordance with again another feature of the invention,

In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, thetreatment device is at least one filtration subsystem comprising atleast one filter fluidically connected to the wastewater pump andoperable to filter wastewater received from the wastewater pump.

In accordance with again an added feature of the invention, the at leastone bioreactive filter has one aerobic filter stage and two anaerobicfilter stages.

In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, the atleast one filter comprises at least one bioreactive filter having a sumpdefining a sump cavity for receiving wastewater therein, a fluidized-bedfilter disposed in the sump cavity and supported upright by the sump,the fluidized-bed filter having an upwardly expanding, hollow, conicalfilter body and filter media inside the filter body, and an outputfluidically connected to the fluidized-bed filter and operable todischarge filtered wastewater from the fluidized-bed filter.

In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, thewastewater collection subsystem includes a solids separator.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin a multi-stage bioreactor for effluent denitrification and systems andmethods for removing nitrogenous waste and odors from wastewater usingmulti-zone aerobic and/or anaerobic fluidized expansion chambers and insystems and processes for wastewater treatment, it is, nevertheless, notintended to be limited to the details shown because variousmodifications and structural changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and within the scope andrange of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements ofexemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detailor will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of theinvention.

Additional advantages and other features characteristic of the presentinvention will be set forth in the detailed description that follows andmay be apparent from the detailed description or may be learned bypractice of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Still otheradvantages of the invention may be realized by any of theinstrumentalities, methods, or combinations particularly pointed out inthe claims.

Other features that are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodimentsof the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to beunderstood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of theinvention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specificstructural and functional details disclosed herein are not to beinterpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as arepresentative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art tovariously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriatelydetailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are notintended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandabledescription of the invention. While the specification concludes withclaims defining the features of the invention that are regarded asnovel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood froma consideration of the following description in conjunction with thedrawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, which are not true to scale, and which, together with thedetailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of thespecification, serve to illustrate further various embodiments and toexplain various principles and advantages all in accordance with thepresent invention. Advantages of embodiments of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description of theexemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical, partially cross-sectional view of a prior artfluidized bed reactor;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, side elevational view of plumbing parts of thefluidized bed reactor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a prior art denitrification systemincorporating the fluidized bed reactor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a liquid flow diagram of a portion of the denitrificationsystem of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view and flow diagram of afiltration system according to one exemplary embodiment of the inventionwhere the filter is separate from the sump;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, horizontal cross-sectional view of an injectionbase of the filtration system of FIG. 5 along section line 6-6 in FIGS.7 and 8;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view, along sectionline 7,8-7,8 in FIG. 6, of the injection base of FIG. 6 and a flowregulation device of FIG. 5 with the float valve in an almost closedstate;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view, along sectionline 7,8-7,8 in FIG. 6, of the injection base and flow regulation deviceof FIG. 7 with the float valve in an open state;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view and flow diagram of afiltration system according to another exemplary embodiment of theinvention where the filter is within the sump;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of asupport plate of the flow regulation device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic flow diagram of a wastewater treatment systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment the invention;

FIG. 12 is a block circuit diagram illustrating a computing system forimplementing the central monitoring system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 diagrammatically illustrates an exemplary configuration ofnetworked filter systems according to the invention along an exemplaryaquifer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to beunderstood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting. The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one ormore than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as twoor more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as atleast a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as usedherein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term“coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although notnecessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

As used herein, the term “about” or “approximately” applies to allnumeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These termsgenerally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art wouldconsider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the samefunction or result). In many instances these terms may include numbersthat are rounded to the nearest significant figure.

Herein various embodiments of the present invention are described. Inmany of the different embodiments, features are similar. Therefore, toavoid redundancy, repetitive description of these similar features maynot be made in some circumstances. It shall be understood, however, thatdescription of a first-appearing feature applies to the later describedsimilar feature and each respective description, therefore, is to beincorporated therein without such repetition.

Described now are exemplary embodiments of the present invention.Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first,particularly to FIG. 5, there is shown a first exemplary embodiment of adenitrification system and process 500 according to the invention. Thisconfiguration of a sump and fluidized bed reactor is the same for boththe anaerobic and aerobic stages with the exception of an aerationdevice used in the latter. FIG. 5, therefore, is an example of anaerobic stage because an aeration device 590 is present in the sump 510.With respect to the inventive features, however, they apply to bothanaerobic and aerobic stages even though only the aerobic stage isillustrated here.

Incoming wastewater W₅₀₀ enters a filter sump 510 at a pump entrysection 520. In the invention, this effluent W₅₀₀ is directed not intothe sump 510 at any location therein but, rather, at a location adjacenta filter pump inflow conduit 530, this location is referred to herein asthe pump entry section 520. The pump entry section 520 is defined onlydiagrammatically (with dashed lines) because it can be implemented in avariety of ways. In one exemplary embodiment, the pump entry section 520can be two vertical walls extending upward from the bottom of the sump510 at a bottom corner thereof to form an open-topped box. As long asthe filter pump 540 is pumping at the same time the effluent W₅₀₀ isentering the sump 510, then virtually all of the effluent W₅₀₀ will bedrawn into the pump 540 before exiting the open-topped box 520. Anotherexemplary configuration of the pump entry section 520 can be formed by asimilar assembly of two corner walls to form a second open-topped boxbut these walls extend above the water level 512 of the sump 510. Insuch a configuration, therefore, all effluent W₅₀₀ is drawn into thepump 540—so long as the effluent W₅₀₀ does not overflow this open-toppedbox 520. If aeration of the fluid in an aerobic sump 510 is desired, itcan be performed as shown in FIG. 5 by aerating the sump fluid outsidethe pump entry section 520. Alternatively, or additionally, the sumpfluid inside the pump entry section 520 can be aerated. (Aeration caneven be performed outside the sump 510 when fluidically connected to thesump 510 by input and output conduits similar to the secondary removalsystem 350 configuration shown in FIG. 3. The pump 540 transfers fluidin the pump entry section 520 to the fluidized bed reactor 550 of theinvention at its injection base 560.

Filtered fluid W₅₅₀ processed by the fluidized bed reactor 550 entersthe sump 510 from the fluidized bed reactor 550. As this fluid W₅₅₀ iscleaner than the fluid contained in the sump 510, it can enter the sump510 at or near the sump's water level 512. This fluid W₅₅₀ can alsoenter the sump 510 at any other level as desired. Treated water W₅₀₂leaves the sump 510 from the water level 512 as the fluid highest in thesump 510 is taken as being most free from the wastewater constituentfiltered out by the fluidized bed reactor 550. For removal of thetreated water W₅₀₂, in one exemplary embodiment, the wall of the sump510 can be provided with an output port acting as a drain and, thereby,define the highest point of the water level 512 (so long as the rate ofincoming treated water W₅₀₂ does not exceed the rate of drain plus therate of any incoming wastewater W₅₀₀ if it enters the sump 510 and notonly the pump entry section 520). In another embodiment, a flexibleoutlet tube can be connected to a device floating at the top of thefluidized bed and act as a skimmer to draw off the uppermost layer ofliquid in the sump 510. Such a tube can float on top of the water and,therefore, allow the water level 512 to vary as desired.

The invention includes a novel injector assembly 560, 570 that providesthe water to be filtered W₅₄₂ to the bottom of the fluidized bed reactor550 in a special way. This injector assembly is comprised of aninjection base 560 and a flow regulation device 570. The injectorassembly 560, 570 can be best seen in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. In contrast tothe prior art fluid injection system 120, 130, 140 (shown in FIG. 1)that forces the effluent W downwardly into the bottom of the fluidizedbed reactor 550 from above, the injector assembly 560, 570 of theinvention provides the water to be filtered W₅₄₂ into the bottom of thefluidized bed reactor 550 differently. More specifically, and withparticular reference to FIG. 6, the injection base 560 provides thewater to be filtered W₅₄₂ horizontal with respect to the Earth andtangentially with respect to the central axes 662, 672 of both theinjection base 560 and the flow regulation device 570. FIG. 6 shows across-section of the injection base 560 along plane 6-6 shown in FIGS. 7and 8. Multiple injection ports 664 are connected fluidically to thepump output 542 to receive the water to be filtered W₅₄₂ therethrough.As shown by the arrows 660, the water to be filtered W₅₄₂ enters themixing chamber 766 of the injection base 560 substantially horizontallyand in a straight line. Then, as it passes a point (e.g., a mid-point,here, the cross-sectional line 7,8-7,8), the flow is caused to spiralaround the central axes 662, 672 and form a liquid cyclone or vortex.Having nowhere downward to go, the injected liquid spirals upwards inthe mixing chamber 766 and into the interior chamber 652 of thefluidized bed reactor's body 750 where the filter media is present.

The novel water injector of FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 has significant advantagesover the prior art. First, the new system provides three pathways forinjecting fluid into the base of the filter as compared to the prior artsystem, which had only one. This is important if the water supply linebecame occluded due to a power failure, for example. Multiple inletsprovide redundancy and security for restarting the fluidization. Next,in contrast to the prior art, the center inlet tube can also be used tosupply wastewater (saturated with oxygen) straight to the base of thefilter for maximum filtration effectiveness. The novel injector also ismore robust and offers more mounting/plumbing options. The novelinjector housing allows for modification to the center tube, thusallowing individual systems to be “custom tailored” to a specific system(different flow rates, media size, media density, etc.). Finally,multiple inlets in the base also allow for multiple supply pumps if sucha configuration is desirable.

A watertight connection between the body 750 of the fluidized bedreactor 550 and the injection base 560 is created in this exemplaryembodiment by a hollow lower tube 752 of the body 750 fitting snuglywithin an upper cavity 668 of the injection base 560.

As the vortex moves upwards, it presses against a lower plug 770 of theflow regulation device 570 at a lower expansion surface 772. Here, thelower expansion surface 772 has an annular shape increasing in diameterfrom bottom to top in the fluid movement direction (i.e., verticallyupwards in the orientation shown in FIGS. 7 and 8). Of course, thisshape can be changed as desired, for example, an inverted pear shapeproduces a slightly different result. This shape is not required toincrease in diameter from inside to outside. Other shapes are possible.

The flow regulation device 570 is shown only partially in FIGS. 7 and 8but in its entirety in FIG. 5. This exemplary embodiment of the flowregulation device 570 is made up of the lower plug 770, an upper collar572, a hollow body 574 connected to both the lower plug 770 and theupper collar 572, and a central support tube 576 about which the lowerplug 770 and the upper collar 572 are slidably disposed. The centralsupport tube 576 fits into a socket 669 in the center of the injectionbase 560 and terminates, as shown in FIG. 5, above the body 750 of thefluidized bed reactor 550. A support plate 580 supports the centralsupport tube 576 at the top of the fluidized bed reactor 550. Thesupport plate 580 can be simply a strip of material spanning theentirety of the upper diameter of fluidized bed reactor 550 and having ahole in the center allowing the central support tube 576 to protrudetherethrough. Alternatively, the support plate 580 can have the samecentral hole to fit the central support tube 576 therein but also bedisk-shaped to cover the entire top opening of the body 750, thuspreventing any contaminant in the environment from entering the top ofthe fluidized bed reactor 550. This upper and lower connectionstabilizes the central support tube 576 and the entire float assembly560, 570 within the fluidized bed reactor 550. The support plate 580serves to center and support the air injection/support tube 576, tocenter and support the cone of the filter, and to allow over-flow waterto return to the sump 510. An alternative embodiment of the supportplate 580 is shown in FIG. 10.

With the connected assembly of the upper collar 572, the hollow body574, and the lower plug 770 sliding about and along (vertically) thecentral support tube 576, these figures illustrate how the injectionbase 560 and the flow regulation device 570 cooperate to divert the flowupwards towards the sides of the fluidized bed reactor 550 andsimultaneously have the flow regulation device 570 act as a float orcheck valve of the fluidized bed reactor 550. More specifically shown bythe transition from FIG. 7 to FIG. 8, the flow regulation device 570lifts up from the force of the water, or, alternatively, is adjusted toa fixed position, thus diverting towards the sides of the interiorchamber 652. The flow regulation device 570 falls back down when suchflow is interrupted. This lift creates a flow gap 700 between the lowerexpansion surface 674 and the uppermost portion of the interior walls710 of the injection base 560. As such, when pressure exists in themixing chamber 766, as shown in FIG. 8, the gap 700 is open and large,thus permitting liquid to flow into the filter media, the pressure ofthe liquid preventing filter media from entirely filling and, therebyclogging, the internal mixing chamber 766. Conversely, when pressure inthe mixing chamber 766 is reduced or eliminated, before the filter mediahas a chance to enter the mixing chamber 766, the lower plug 770completely enters the mixing chamber 766 (slightly lower in the mixingchamber 766 than shown in FIG. 7) to close the gap 700. When so closed,the lower plug 770 prevents filter media from settling into the internalmixing chamber 766 and plugging up the fluidized bed reactor 550. Whilethe pressure of liquid entering the mixing chamber 766 may be sufficientto lift the float valve, the annulus between the central support tube576 and the hollow body 574 can be filled with air and/or water toadjust buoyancy of the flow regulation device 570 either positively ornegatively.

In an addition to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, thecentral support tube 576 (as well as the lower plug 770) can be fittedat the bottom with one or more outlets 800 (shown diagrammatically withdashed lines in FIG. 8) and at the top with a fluid supply to, forexample, supply oxygen, air, water, or another fluid under pressureinside the interior mixing chamber 766. If desired, water can beinjected into the central support tube 576 to clear material or filtermedia that somehow has bypassed the float valve and clogged the interiormixing chamber 766. This unclogging is referred to as “burping” thefilter. While these outlets 800 are shown as discrete openings, theportion of the central support tube 576 where the openings 800 are showncan, instead, contain a porous material that would allow air or water toflow into the fluidized bed but prevent sand from clogging the openings.

Positioned anywhere inside the fluidized bed reactor 550 can be varioussensors. One such sensor 592 (an oxygen probe for example) is shown ashanging from the support plate 580 and within the fluidized bed offilter media. Such sensors can measure temperature, dissolved solids,pH, dissolved oxygen, or other filter characteristic. If desired, datafrom such sensors can be used to adjust process parameters and, forexample, be managed by microprocessor control. In the embodiment of FIG.5, the fluidized bed reactor 550 is separate from the sump 510. Thisconfiguration still has the relatively large footprint described above.In an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 9, incontrast, the inventive filtration system 900 places the fluidized bedreactor 910 actually inside the sump 920.

Mounting the fluidized bed reactor 910 in the sump offer severaldistinct advantages over mounting it externally. First, it eliminatesexpensive and complex support structure required for a conical tank.Second, placing the fluidized bed reactor 910 inside a sump offersoutstanding mounting stability and protects the filter from beingaccidentally knocked over. Next, the fluidized bed reactor 910 has farbetter temperature stability since the fluidized bed reactor 910 isinsulated by the water in the sump. Also, there is less thermal lossfrom a second external structure and its related plumbing. Fourth, thefootprint of the entire system is greatly reduced (by about 40-50percent). A fifth advantage is a significant reduction in the likelihoodof a spill because all of the related plumbing of the fluidized bedreactor 910 is contained in the sump. Finally, such a configurationsimplifies construction and shipping, which is not insignificant for alarge filter system.

The injector assembly of this embodiment also is comprised of the sameinjection base 560 and flow regulation device 570 of the injectorassembly of FIG. 5. As such, this injector assembly receives wastewaterto be treated W₉₀₀ from a pump 940 through a pump output 942. This pumpoutput 942 provides the water to be filtered W₉₄₂ into the bottom of thefluidized bed reactor 910 horizontal with respect to the Earth andtangentially with respect to the central axis of both the injection base560 and the flow regulation device 570. This exemplary embodiment of theflow regulation device 570 also includes the lower plug 770, the uppercollar 572, the hollow body 574 connected to both the lower plug 770 andthe upper collar 572, and the central support tube 576 about which thelower plug 770 and the upper collar 572 are slidably disposed.

As the configuration and operation of the injection base 560 and theflow regulation device 770 in FIG. 9 are the same as already describedabove, the features thereof are not explained again. The support plate580 also functions similarly to support the central support tube 576 atthe top of the fluidized bed reactor 910. With the connected assembly ofthe upper collar 572, the hollow body 574, and the lower plug 770sliding about and along (vertically) the central support tube 576, FIG.9 illustrates how the injection base 560 and the flow regulation device570 cooperate to divert the flow upwards towards the sides of thefluidized bed reactor 910 and simultaneously have the flow regulationdevice 570 act as a float or check valve of the fluidized bed reactor910.

The embodiment of FIG. 9, however, differs with respect to the waterlevel 912. Here, overflow of the fluidized bed reactor 910 always entersthe sump 920—because the fluidized bed reactor 910 exists inside thesump 920. Accordingly, the water level 912 (shown with a dashed line)can be above the support plate 580.

There are significant and varied benefits by locating the fluidized bedreactor 910 inside the sump 920. First, as mentioned above, thefootprint of the filtration stage reduces by half. Second, for example,the support plate 580 (or some other support at the upper end of thefluidized bed reactor 910) can be fixed to the inside of the opposingwalls of the sump 920. With the injection base 560 also secured to thefloor of the sump 920, the sump 920, itself, becomes the supportstructure for the fluidized bed reactor 910, thereby eliminating all ofthe expensive parts and assembly costs for the separate supportstructure required by the prior art and by the reactor configurationshown in FIG. 5. This savings of cost and materials is notinsignificant. Next, the water surrounding the entire fluidized bedreactor 910 provides stability and support to the entire outer surfaceof the fluidized bed reactor 910. The water also serves to insulate thefluidized bed and stabilize temperature variations.

In an addition to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the centralsupport tube 576 (as well as the lower plug 770) can be fitted at thebottom with one or more outlets 800 (like the ones showndiagrammatically with dashed lines in FIG. 8) and at the top with afluid supply to, for example, supply oxygen, air, water, or anotherfluid under pressure inside the interior mixing chamber 766. If desired,water can be injected into the central support tube 576 to clearmaterial or filter media that somehow has bypassed the float valve andclogged the interior mixing chamber 766. In addition to or instead ofinjecting fluid through the central support tube 576, oxygen or air canbe injected downstream of check valve 930, into one or both of theinjection ports 664 of the injection base 560, or into the mixingchamber 766. This injection can be used to alter the filtration process,for cleaning clogs, and/or for reestablishing fluidization (burp), toname a few.

If the pump 940 is the only measure for injecting effluent into thefiltration system 900, then too much flow will cause the sump 920 tooverflow, even if the treated water W₉₀₂ leaving the sump 920 is allowedto freely flow out through a skimmer tube 902 in the side wall of thesump 920. If desired, therefore, a flowmeter 950 can reside at theskimmer tube 902 and, through a communication device 960, provideinformation to the pump 940 in a feedback loop to regulate pump 940activity. Such feedback can occur by a direct connection, wirelessly, orindirectly through a separate control system, such as a microcomputerconnected to the Internet, for example.

Like the embodiment of FIG. 5, positioned anywhere inside the fluidizedbed reactor 910 or the sump 920 can be various sensors. One such sensor980, e.g., an oxygen probe, is shown as hanging from the support plate580 and within the fluidized bed of filter media inside the fluidizedbed reactor 910. Such sensors can measure temperature, dissolved solids,pH, oxygen, or other filter characteristics. If desired, data from suchsensors can be used to adjust process parameters and, for example, bemanaged by microprocessor control. Examples of these alternatives aredescribed in further detail below.

Various process characteristics of filtration according to the inventioncan be described with respect to FIGS. 5 to 8. The process of removingnitrogenous waste (such as ammonia, nitrite, and/or nitrate) and odorsfrom wastewater using multi-zone aerobic, anaerobic (or both) fluidizedexpansion chambers first has incoming wastewater W₅₀₀ enter the sump 510from external non-illustrated pump(s), siphon tube(s), overflowbarrier(s) or gravitational flow, to name a few. The sump 510 acts as an“accumulator” for the wastewater W₅₀₀ being filtered, thus insuring theattached biological filter's supply pump 540 always has a steady supplyof water for consistent media fluidization. If the sump 510 isoversized, it will contain water during high flow events and allow it tobe properly processed by the filter system 500 over longer periods oftime, i.e., there is no wash out. The turnover rate into the sump 510partially dictates the dwell time for the water being treated. A slowerintake flow allows the wastewater to be more thoroughly processed by thefiltration system 500 as more wastewater passes through the media. Evenunder conditions of no flow, the filtration system 500 remains activeand fluidized. This is significant when dealing with batch flow orfluctuating wastewater flows. The water being treated is ideally kept ata temperature of between 40 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit, at a pH ofbetween 5 and 8, at oxygen levels greater than 2.0 mg/l for aerobicfiltration and less than 1.0 mg/l for anaerobic filtration. Oxygenprobes mounted or suspended in the media allows aeration to be properlyset for the desired form of filtration. Oxygen can be added (if needed)to the wastewater in the sump 510. Other probes to detect temperature,pH, etc. can be used as well. Water W₅₄₂ enters the fluidized bedreactor 550 at the bottom center. The flow rate can be highly variable,but there should be enough water entering the chamber 652 to cause theresting media to become continuously “fluidized or expanded” above theresting level. But, the flow rate should not be fast enough to wash themedia out of the fluidized bed reactor 550. “Pulsing” the inlet flowrate (periodically) above normal operation levels is helpful in insuringthat the media does not have a chance to form “dead zones” where themedia can de-fluidize and clump. The biological chamber 652 in thefluidized bed reactor 550 is a multi-zone, multi-diameter vessel thatcan be either an open-topped or pressurized container, depending uponthe given circumstances. Progressively increasing the fluidized bedreactor's diameter drastically lengthens the “dwell time” of water beingtreated therein, allowing the water to be in contact with the bacteriafor far longer periods of time than it would be in a cylinder of similarheight. Depending upon the shape and flow rate, this can be an order ofmagnitude (or more) of additional exposure time to the media. Thediameter increase also helps prevent media loss by decreasing the watervelocity through the internal chamber 652. The solid media in thefluidized portion of the fluidized bed reactor 550 needs to havenegative buoyancy and to be relatively uniform in classification. Fixedmedia can also be installed in the top portion of the biofilter (abovethe fluidized media) to provide additional bacterial attachment points.

Another exemplary embodiment of the filter housing differs from astraight-sided cone. In such an embodiment, the walls can have avariable sweep (like a soda-bottle shape, for example). A variable sweepto the sidewalls allows the flow dynamics to be optimized for differentmedia types and applications. Also, the filter chamber 652 can be builteither as pressurized systems (water enters and leaves the filter underpressure) or as non-pressurized systems (water enters under pressure butdrains from sump under gravity). Both types have individual applicationsand benefits. There also is a benefit to coupling fluidized bed reactorswith anaerobic digesters. The anaerobic digesters mineralize additionalnitrogen in the process of converting organic matter in the waste tomethane. The additional mineralized nitrogen becomes available forremoval from the wastewater and the methane from the anaerobic digestercan be used to produce energy. If the final effluent is desired to beused as a fertilizer, then the fluidized bed reactor can be configuredto convert ammonia nitrogen to nitrate but without the final conversionof the nitrate to atmospheric nitrogen (N₂). By doing this, thevolatility of the nitrogen is reduced and less of the fertilizer valueof the effluent will be lost during application of the effluent to thecrops being fertilized. It is noted that nitrate is a preferred form ofnitrogen for most crops.

What has been primarily described above are systems and processes fortreatment of wastewater in a context independent from the overallenvironment, such as a singular facility. It has been discovered thatthe above systems/processes are not simply for stand-alone applicationsindependent of the environment or other facilities. Rather, a singlefacility can be interconnected to a remote location for external controland monitoring. In this way, not only can the facility be operated toinsure that no wastewater is discharged into the environment in a“micro” perspective, but the guarantee of non-discharge can bedocumented automatically with verifiable systems and reliable devices.Interconnection of a number of different systems in the environment orto other systems/processes provides enhanced benefits. Moreparticularly, the invention is able to coordinate a particularwastewater system of the invention with other, separate wastewatersystems so that an entire area (such as all wastewater systems along aparticular waterway, for example) can be monitored and documented; thisbeing referred to as a “macro” perspective of wastewater processing andcontrol. Before describing the macro-system embodiment, an exemplarymicro-process is described with regard to FIG. 11—“micro” referring to asingular bioreactor in this example and “macro” referring to thebioreactor combined with its surroundings and interconnections and itsaffect on the environment and other wastewater treatment facilities. Toplace the systems and processes of the invention in context, anexemplary embodiment is explained with regard to treatment of wastewaterthat would be generated from a dairy farm or other livestock-usingindustry location. In addition to treating wastewaters from confinedanimal feeding operations, the inventive fluidized bed reactor can beused to treat other wastewater streams including aquaculture, pond andlake maintenance, food processing, brewery and other fermentation anddistillation processes, municipal and residential wastewaters, and otherindustrial wastewaters that require the removal of odors and nitrogencompounds.

In general, generated waste is collected in various ways, either throughtoilets or, in the dairy farm example, by washing manure off of thefloor of a dairy barn. Though washing with water is an effective way ofclearing the manure from the barn floor, the water then has to betreated/disposed of in some way. This flush water can be fresh water,which has a negative affect on the environment, or, according to anexemplary embodiment of the invention, the flush water can be recycledwater processed from the wastewater treatment system of the inventionitself.

With regard to FIG. 11, the wash-off manure-water mixture W₁₁₀₀ iscollected in a holding facility or tank 1110. The manure-containingwater W₁₁₁₀ is diverted to a solids separator 1120 (diagrammaticallyindicated by a dashed line) and the solids are removed for use as a soilamendment or bedding, for example. A pump 1130 injects the solids-freewater W₁₁₂₀ into the sump of a first stage of a bioreactor 1140according to the invention. Here, the bioreactor 1140 is shown with oneaerobic and two anaerobic filter stages, in particular, sand filters.This exemplary configuration also employs the low-footprint filterconfiguration of the invention shown in FIG. 9. This configuration isonly exemplary and can be expanded in any configuration as desired or asdescribed herein. The water pump 1130 for pumping solids-free water hastwo inputs, the first solids-free water W₁₁₂₀ arrives from the output ofthe solids separator 1120, and the second W₁₁₅₀ arrives from an outputof a pre-filter sump 1150, which is described in further detail below.

After passing through an aerobic filtration stage and at least oneanaerobic filtration stage (typically two or more), the filtered waterW₁₁₄₀ enters a post-filter holding sump 1160, which can be a lagoon orany other holding area that contains the filtered water W₁₁₄₀ andprevents it from being discharged into the environment in any way, evenwhen the system 1100 is not functioning or when the sump 1160experiences a sudden influx, whether of fresh water, of wastewater, orof any other contamination. In this way, the water W₁₁₄₀ in thepost-filter sump 1160 can be monitored at all times to determine if thequality of the water W₁₁₄₀ is at or below permissible discharge levels.The post-filter sump 1160 being large enough to handle any output volumeof the bioreactor 1140 allows the system 1100 of the invention tocontrol very precisely what is discharged. To insure that only verifiedeffluent is discharged out from the system, only when the contents ofthe post-filter sump 1160 is measured as “pollutant-free” (according todesired standards that can vary from system to system) will the outputpump 1170 be allowed to remove water therefrom and transfer “clean”water W₁₁₇₀ into the environment, which could be a sewer system,cropland, or a local waterway, to name a few. If, in contrast, the waterW₁₁₄₀ in the post-filter sump 1160 has an unacceptable level ofcontamination, then a recirculation pump 1180 transfers the water W₁₁₄₀from the post-filter sump 1160 back into the pre-filter sump 1150 forreprocessing in the biofilter 1140.

Sensor suites can be located at various locations in the inventivesystem. As used herein, a “sensor suite” can be one or more sensors,each measuring or detecting at least one characteristic of the water,the associated physical structure, the associated local environment ofthe structure, and/or the machinery associated with the structure.According to an exemplary embodiment, the water pump 1130 has a firstsensor suite 1132, the pre-filter sump 1150 has a second sensor suite1152, and the post-filter sump 1160 has a third sensor suite 1162. Ofcourse, additional or alternative sensor suites can be located at anypart or stage of the systems and processes of the invention. “First,”“second,” and “third” is not used here to describe a temporalassociation of the components or a physical association of thecomponents; these labels are only used as identifiers to separate theunderstanding of the various sensor suites from one another. In oneembodiment, for example, the three sensor suites 1132, 1152, and 1162can be a single system with various parts and functions.

Exemplary sensors can include alarms, for example, visual (e.g.,lights), aural (e.g., speakers), and/or communicative (e.g., an email orany electronic signal). The alarm signals can be sent directly, as in amonitoring booth at the location, or indirectly, e.g., transmittedthrough the Internet to a remote and/or automated site. Cameras can alsobe used as sensors. A camera can include a microphone when noiseconditions are desired to be monitored. Water detection sensors canmonitor water spills at any part of the systems/processes. With any ofthese sensors, it is beneficial to log data measured by each sensor sothat past status can be verified and, possibly, future problemspredicted. Data can be logged by local analog machines (e.g., paper andpen cylinders) or digital machines (e.g., electronic signalscorresponding to current states) can transmit or store the data.

Parameters of the water including temperature, pH, oxygen (O₂) content,oxidation/reduction (ReDox), ammonia (NH₃), Nitrate (NO₃), flow (bothpresence and rate), total suspended solids (TSS), and fluidized bedlevel/height can each be measured with respective sensors. An example ofa data table that can be kept by a respective sensor suite 1132, 1152,1162 or set of sensor suites is set forth in the following table.

1132 1152 1162 Temp T₁ T₂ T₃ pH pH₁ pH₂ pH₃ O₂ Ox₁ Ox₂ Ox₃ ReDox eH₁ eH₂eH₃ NH₃ NH₁ NH₂ NH₃ NO₃ NO₁ NO₂ NO₃ Flow (y/n) y/n y/n y/n Flow (gpm) F₁F₂ F₃ TSS TS₁ TS₂ TS₃ Bed Height BH₁ BH₂ BH₃As described above, many water treatment systems do not have thecapacity to handle large surges of wastewater. As a result these systemsroutinely discharge polluted water because output water is discharged atthe same rate it enters the system—when input flow exceeds processingcapabilities of the system, the polluted water simply exits the system.The configuration of the inventive system 1100 described with regard toFIG. 11, eliminates this disadvantageous inability to process surges bysizing the holding tank 1110, the post-filter sump 1160, and thepre-filter sump 1150 sufficiently large enough to handle any surge thatthe system 1100 might experience. If the sensor 1132, 1152, and 1162 canmonitor any or all of process flows, containment water levels, watertemperatures, pH, nutrient concentrations, total suspended solids,actual and potential effects of local weather conditions, and others,then appropriate valves, pumps, and diverters can be actuatedautomatically to prevent any contaminated effluent from beingdischarged.

On a local site level, parameters that are measured by various probesand instruments connect to a central monitoring system (e.g., a personalcomputer), which contains and executes software that captures,processes, and records the sensed data and, then, remotely operates anumber of responsive process control mechanisms such as valves, pumps,chemical dispensers, etc., to optimize the operation of a particularfiltering system or to shut down one or more components or operations inthe case of failure or need for repair. During times when the processedoutput exceeds the limits permitted for lawful or proper discharge (forexample, the amount allowable under a particular permit), the inventioncan proactively divert output flow into a holding facility (i.e., tankor pond or sump) for reprocessing until concentration levels at thewastewater system output achieve compliance, at which time permissibledischarge can occur. This “smart” interactive process is capable ofmonitoring and reporting on a local or regional basis (by coordinatingthe monitoring of adjacent sites or sites on the same waterway) and inreal-time, allowing numerous advantages in monitoring the actual andpotential discharges into a natural system, not the least of which is toallow affected dischargers to trade, sell or exchange excess capacity orallowances.

FIG. 12 is a high-level, block diagram illustrating a detailed view of acomputing system 1200 useful for implementing the central monitoringsystem according to embodiments of the present invention. The computingsystem 1200 is based upon a suitably configured processing deviceadapted to implement an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.For example, a personal computer, workstation, or the like, may be used.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the computingsystem 1200 includes one or more processors, such as processor 1204. Theprocessor 1204 is connected to a communication infrastructure 1202(e.g., a communications bus, crossover bar, or network). The computingsystem 1200 can include a display interface 1208 that forwards graphics,text, and other data from the communication infrastructure 1202 (or froma frame buffer) for display on a display unit 1210. The computing system1200 also includes a main memory 1206, preferably random access memory(RAM), and may also include a secondary memory 1212 as well as variouscaches and auxiliary memory as are normally found in computer systems.The secondary memory 1212 may include, for example, a hard disk drive1214 and/or a removable storage drive 1216, representing a floppy diskdrive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removablestorage drive 1216 reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit1218 in a manner well known to those having ordinary skill in the art.Removable storage unit 1218, represents a floppy disk, a compact disc,magnetic tape, optical disk, etc. which is read by and written to byremovable storage drive 1216. As will be appreciated, components of thecomputing system 1200 (e.g., the main memory 1206 and/or the removablestorage unit 1218) includes a computer readable medium having storedtherein computer software and/or data. The computer readable medium mayinclude non-volatile memory, such as ROM, Flash memory, Disk drivememory, CD-ROM, and other permanent storage. Additionally, a computermedium may include, for example, volatile storage such as RAM, buffers,cache memory, and network circuits. Furthermore, the computer readablemedium may comprise computer readable information in a transitory statemedium such as a network link and/or a network interface, including awired network or a wireless network, that allow a computer to read suchcomputer-readable information.

In alternative embodiments, the secondary memory 1212 may include othersimilar measures for allowing computer programs or other instructions tobe loaded into the central monitoring system of the invention. Suchmeasures may include, for example, a removable storage unit 1222 and aninterface 1220. Examples of such may include a program cartridge andcartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), aremovable memory chip (such as an EPROM, or PROM) and associated socket,and other removable storage units 1222 and interfaces 1220 that allowsoftware and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit 1222to the computing system 1200.

The computing system 1200, in this example, includes a communicationsinterface 1224 that acts as an input and output and allows software anddata to be transferred between the central monitoring system of theinvention and external devices or access points via a communicationspath 1226. Examples of communications interface 1224 may include amodem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communicationsport, a PCMCIA slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred throughcommunications interface 1224 are in the form of signals that may be,for example, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signalscapable of being received by communications interface 1224. The signalsare provided to communications interface 1224 through a communicationspath (i.e., channel) 1226. The channel 1226 carries signals and may beimplemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a phone line, a cellularphone link, an RF link, and/or other communications channels.

Herein, the terms “computer program medium,” “computer usable medium,”and “computer readable medium” are used to generally refer to media suchas main memory 1206 and secondary memory 1212, removable storage drive1216, a hard disk installed in hard disk drive 1214, and signals. Thecomputer program products are measures for providing software to thecomputer system. The computer readable medium allows the computer systemto read data, instructions, messages or message packets, and othercomputer readable information from the computer readable medium.

Computer programs (also called computer control logic) are stored inmain memory 1206 and/or secondary memory 1212. Computer programs mayalso be received through communications interface 1224. Such computerprograms, when executed, enable the computer system to perform thefeatures of the present invention as discussed herein. In particular,the computer programs, when executed, enable the processor 1204 toperform the features of the computer system.

Each of the inventive filtration systems has the ability to connectthrough the Internet or through other remote electronic measures to acentral monitoring location, where operational parameters andmaintenance of the systems can be observed and controlled. Themonitoring location is able to view the data recorded by each filtrationsystem (either periodically or in real-time), and, in an embodimentwhere a remote viewing system is used in conjunction (for example, a webcamera), operational problems are observed and diagnosed remotely. Ifany problems occur that need physical repair or service, a livetechnician can, then, be dispatched to fix the filter system or thatfilter system could be shut down remotely or have its output divertedremotely or held until proper operation of the filter was restored. Withthe inventive connection of various dispersed filter systems, undesireddiversion of wastewater into the aquifer is entirely prevented. FIG. 13diagrammatically illustrates an exemplary configuration of networkedfilter systems according to the invention along a particular aquifer.

In the macro-system of the invention, each of the individual filtrationsystems 1100 is connected as a network to a central monitoring station1300 (i.e., a computing system) where the output of all of the networkedsystems 1100 is monitored on a continuous basis to achieve complianceand protect against unauthorized discharge of contaminated water intothe natural environment. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 13,three filtration systems 1100 according to the invention are disposedalong an individual aquifer 1320, such as a stream. If the onlywastewater sources on the stream 1320 are these three systems 1100, andif all effluent of these system 1100 are monitored, then the entireaquifer 1320 can be controlled simply by keeping track of the datagenerated by the three systems 1100. Of course, monitoring withappropriate measuring devices 1330 at the mouth of the stream 1100 whereit exits into a waterway 1340 (such as a river) can insure compliance bythe three filtration systems 1100. But, control of the three filtrationsystems' 1100 output, whether locally or at the central monitoringstation 1300, insures that effluent is not placed into the stream 1320when above minimum permissible tolerances.

Each of the filtration systems 1100 can communicate to the centralmonitoring station 1300 in any way. In FIG. 13, for example, thecommunication is shown as occurring wirelessly through respectivecommunication towers 1350. In the macro view of the river 1340,pollution control can be carried out by monitoring not only the threefiltration systems 1100 on the stream filtration systems 1320, but alsoother filtration systems 1100 along the river 1340 itself. With realtime monitoring and recording of data from all of the filtration systems1100 along the various waterways 1320, 1340, pollutant-free verificationcan occur easily. As such, the invention provides continuous watertreatment capability to a large number of distributed filter systems(e.g., physically separate and, possibly, far apart from one another) ata cost that is many factors cheaper than the cost of a conventionalsewer system.

The invention, therefore, creates a virtual wastewater treatmentmonitoring and control system having a network of independent treatmentor filtration systems that are instrumented to measure critical processparameters such as process flows, containment water levels, watertemperature, pH, nutrient concentration, total suspended solids, actualand potential effects of local weather conditions, and others. The dataproduced and recorded by these individual sub-systems are, then,transmitted electronically and captured at a central monitoring systemof the invention, at which the received data is further analyzed andused to manage the systems remotely. The invention, thereby, providesoversight to the control and operation of the treatments systems beingmonitored. Not only does the inventive filter system 1100 decrease thespace required at a particular wastewater generator, it turns it into aself-contained wastewater treatment plant that can be certified by anyappropriate authority for having discharged no wastewater or only anexact, known, permissible quantity.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate theprinciples, exemplary embodiments, and modes of operation of theinvention. However, the invention should not be construed as beinglimited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additionalvariations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art and the above-described embodiments should beregarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it shouldbe appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined by the following claims.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed,those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes canbe made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to berestricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intendedthat the appended claims cover any and all such applications,modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wastewater treatment system for a watersheddefining an aquifer or waterway, comprising: a network of independentwastewater treatment facilities, each of the independent wastewatertreatment facilities having: wastewater treatment subsystems including:a wastewater collection subsystem for holding wastewater to be treated;a filter pump subsystem comprising a wastewater pump fluidicallyconnected to the wastewater collection subsystem and operable to pumpwastewater out from the wastewater collection subsystem; at least onefiltration subsystem comprising at least one bioreactive filterfluidically connected to the wastewater pump and operable to filterwastewater received from the wastewater pump, the at least onebioreactive filter having: a sump defining a sump cavity for receivingwastewater therein; a fluidized-bed filter disposed in the sump cavity;and an output fluidically connected to the fluidized-bed filter andoperable to discharge filtered wastewater from the fluidized-bed filter;a monitoring subsystem comprising monitors operable to measurewastewater process parameters of the wastewater treatment subsystemselected from at least one of the group consisting of process flow,water level, water temperature, pH, nutrient concentration, totalsuspended solids, actual weather condition at the wastewater treatmentfacility, and effects of local weather condition on the wastewatertreatment facility; control devices operable to receive at least onecontrol command and, dependent upon the at least one control commandreceived, to alter at least one parameter of at least one of thewastewater treatment subsystems; and a communication device operativelyconnected to the wastewater treatment subsystems and to the controldevices and operable: to send information corresponding to thewastewater process parameters measured by the monitors; to receivecontrol messages corresponding to the at least one control command; andto transmit the at least one control command to at least one of thecontrol devices to, thereby, alter a wastewater process parameter; atleast one monitor located to measure water that includes wastewaterdischarged from two or more of the independent wastewater treatmentfacilities and operable to monitor water quality parameters of thewatershed; and a central monitoring location operable to manage thewatershed by: receiving the information corresponding to the wastewaterprocess parameters from each communication device; evaluating if changesare to be made by at least one of the independent wastewater treatmentfacilities; sending the control messages to at least one of theindependent wastewater treatment facilities; and coordinating themonitoring of the independent wastewater treatment facilities byallowing the independent wastewater treatment facilities to at least oneof trade, sell, and exchange excess effluent capacity.
 2. The wastewatertreatment system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one oftrading, selling, and exchanging of excess effluent capacity is forexcess waste capacity selected from at least one of the group consistingof ammonia, phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, nitrogenous materials, andheavy metals.
 3. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 1,wherein the central monitoring location is operable to manage thewatershed by at least one of regulating and diverting discharge from theindependent wastewater treatment facilities to maintain compliance withpermissible, monitored watershed parameter tolerances.
 4. The wastewatertreatment system according to claim 1, wherein the central monitoringlocation includes a central processing system having a transceiveroperable to communicate with the communication device, the centralprocessing system being operable to receive the information from eachcommunication device of the wastewater treatment facilities and totransmit at least one control message to each communication device. 5.The wastewater treatment system according to claim 4, wherein thecentral processing system is programmed to capture, process, and recordthe received information and, then, remotely operate each wastewatertreatment facility by sending the at least one control message.
 6. Thewastewater treatment system according to claim 5, wherein the controldevices comprise at least one of the group consisting of cameras,valves, pumps, chemical dispensers, relays, switches, and facility shutdown devices.
 7. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 4,wherein the central processing system comprises a personal computer andthe communication device comprises a communication connection to theInternet.
 8. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 1,wherein each of the wastewater treatment subsystems comprises: athroughput rate; and a turnover rate independent of the throughput rate.9. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 1, wherein thefluidized-bed filter is supported upright by the sump and has anupwardly expanding, hollow, conical filter body and filter media insidethe filter body.
 10. The wastewater treatment system according to claim1, wherein the wastewater collection subsystem includes a solidsseparator.
 11. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 1,wherein the at least one bioreactive filter has one aerobic filter stageand two anaerobic filter stages.
 12. A distributed wastewater treatmentsystem for a watershed defining an aquifer or waterway, comprising: anetwork of distributed wastewater treatment facilities operativelyunconnected to a central, downstream wastewater treatment facility, eachof the distributed wastewater treatment facilities having: wastewatertreatment subsystems including: a wastewater treatment device; and amonitoring subsystem comprising at least one monitor operable to measurewastewater process parameters of the wastewater treatment subsystemsselected from at least one of the group consisting of process flow,water level, water temperature, pH, nutrient concentration, totalsuspended solids, actual weather condition at the wastewater treatmentfacility, and effects of local weather condition on the wastewatertreatment facility; at least one control device operable to receive atleast one control command and, dependent upon the at least one controlcommand received, to alter at least one parameter of at least one of thewastewater treatment subsystems; and a communication device operativelyconnected to at least one of the wastewater treatment subsystems and theat least one control device and operable: to transmit informationcorresponding to the measured wastewater process parameters; to receivecontrol messages corresponding to the at least one control command; andto transmit the at least one control command to the at least one controldevice to, thereby, alter a wastewater process parameter; at least onemonitor located to measure water that includes wastewater dischargedfrom two or more of the distributed wastewater treatment facilities andoperable to monitor water quality parameters of the watershed; and acentral monitoring location operable to manage the watershed by:receiving the information corresponding to the wastewater processparameters from each communication device; evaluating if changes are tobe made by at least one of the independent wastewater treatmentfacilities; sending the control messages to at least one of theindependent wastewater treatment facilities; and coordinating themonitoring of the independent wastewater treatment facilities byallowing the independent wastewater treatment facilities to at least oneof trade, sell, and exchange excess effluent capacity.
 13. Thewastewater treatment system according to claim 12, further comprising: awastewater collection subsystem for holding wastewater to be treated;and a wastewater pump subsystem comprising a wastewater pump fluidicallyconnected to the wastewater collection subsystem and operable to pumpwastewater out from the wastewater collection subsystem, the wastewatertreatment device being operable to treat wastewater received from thewastewater pump and being at least one filtration subsystem comprisingat least one filter fluidically connected to the wastewater pump andoperable to filter wastewater received from the wastewater pump.
 14. Thewastewater treatment system according to claim 13, wherein the at leastone filter comprises at least one bioreactive filter having: a sumpdefining a sump cavity for receiving wastewater therein; a fluidized-bedfilter disposed in the sump cavity and supported upright by the sump,the fluidized-bed filter having an upwardly expanding, hollow, conicalfilter body and filter media inside the filter body; and an outputfluidically connected to the fluidized-bed filter and operable todischarge filtered wastewater from the fluidized-bed filter.
 15. Thewastewater treatment system according to claim 12, wherein the at leastone of trading, selling, and exchanging of excess effluent capacity isfor excess waste capacity selected from at least one of the groupconsisting of ammonia, phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, nitrogenousmaterials, and heavy metals.
 16. The wastewater treatment systemaccording to claim 12, wherein the central monitoring location isoperable to manage the watershed by at least one of regulating anddiverting discharge from the independent wastewater treatment facilitiesto maintain compliance with permissible, monitored watershed parametertolerances.
 17. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 12,wherein the central monitoring location includes a central processingsystem having a transceiver operable to communicate with thecommunication device, the central processing system being operable toreceive the information from each communication device of the wastewatertreatment facilities and to transmit at least one control message toeach communication device.
 18. The wastewater treatment system accordingto claim 17, wherein the central processing system is programmed tocapture, process, and record the received information and, then,remotely operate each wastewater treatment facility by sending the atleast one control message.
 19. The wastewater treatment system accordingto claim 12, wherein the at least one control device comprises at leastone of the group consisting of cameras, valves, pumps, chemicaldispensers, relays, switches, and facility shut down devices.
 20. Thewastewater treatment system according to claim 17, wherein the centralprocessing system comprises at least one of a personal computer and aworkstation, and the communication device comprises a communicationconnection to the Internet.
 21. The wastewater treatment systemaccording to claim 12, wherein each of the wastewater treatmentsubsystems comprises: a throughput rate; and a turnover rate independentof the throughput rate.
 22. The wastewater treatment system according toclaim 13, wherein the wastewater collection subsystem includes a solidsseparator.
 23. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 14,wherein the at least one bioreactive filter has one aerobic filter stageand one anaerobic filter stage.